You don’t even need to win to get honored, as Toffees’ netminder Tim Howard warmed-up for his return to USMNT duty with a stellar display against Tottenham, while hard-luck loser Chancel Mbemba gets lauded for his work in a 1-0 loss against Arsenal (Mbemba has been incredible for NUFC since joining from Anderlecht).

Manchester United and Newcastle United played out an entertaining 0-0 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday, with the Red Devils and Magpies both going close to snatching all three points on a sunny day in Manchester.

After just five minutes it looked like United had gone ahead but Rooney had a goal disallowed for offside. On second viewing, Rooney appeared to be level with Steven Taylor when the ball was played but it was an incredibly tight decision against the Red Devils’ captain. In a positive first half for the home side, Juan Mata first tested Tim Krul with a free kick on target and then in the 15th minute the Dutch goalkeeper saved well down low after Mata jinxed inside and his low left-footed effort went towards Krul’s near post.

0 – Manchester United have started a league season with three straight clean sheets for only the fifth time ever (first since 05/06). Block.

Despite United pouring forward in the first half and dominating the game, Newcastle came closest to scoring as Aleksandar Mitrovic hit the crossbar with a towering header from Chancel Mbemba’s superb cross, as Sergio Romero was beaten. So close for the Magpies to snatch the lead.

Newcastle improved dramatically before half time, with Massadio Haidara becoming dangerous on the left as Mata failed to track him back. In the 42nd minute, Newcastle again came close as Ayoze Perez’s shot squeaked just wide of the post after the ball pin-balled in and around the box.

In the second half the tempo of the game slowed down but United pressed as the game wore on and should have been ahead in the 64th minute when a corner from the right found Chris Smalling at the back post but he couldn’t get clean contact on the ball and the chance passed him by.

Late on Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez came on for United as they tried to nick all three points. In the 73rd minute Mata blasted an effort high and wide, then Luke Shaw’s effort went straight at Krul soon after. Chicharito had a glorious chance to win the game 10 minutes from time, but after breaking free inside the box he was denied by a wonderful stop from Krul.

Then in stoppage time Smalling had a header hit the post and seconds later new Newcastle signing Florin Thauvin came so close to stealing the win for Newcastle as he slid in. There was time for one more chance but Michael Carrick’s shot deflected wide of the far post as the teams shared the spoils

It’s been shot down again and again, but rumors of a Thomas Muller to Manchester United move continue to spill out of Germany. This time it’s Kicker saying the Red Devils are trying to tempt Bayern Munich with a $75 million offer for one of Germany’s World Cup heroes. The move would make even more sense than adding Pedro from Barcelona, as it could free up Wayne Rooney and ease the captain’s burden during the busy UEFA Champions League and Cup seasons.

Swiss veteran Gokhan Inler be en route to the Premier League. Sky Sports says the Napoli man may be another Serie A signing for the club that famously added Esteban Cambiasso last season. Inler, 31, is the captain of the Swiss national team and manned the midfield in all four of their matches at the 2014 World Cup. Claudio Ranieiri would certainly welcome the mid’s gusto.

Has Sunderland’s embarrassing opening day prodded their front office into further action? Offense wasn’t the Black Cats problem in a 4-2 loss to Leicester City, but Fabio Borini is being pegged as more likely to leave Liverpool for the Stadium of Light than stick around. It would be a loan, and Sky Sports says Adnan Januzaj is still weighing the option to make a similar move.

Newcastle United may be set to send veteran back Mike Williamson down South in search of a younger, better model. Williamson has fallen down the Magpies’ depth chart with the arrival of Chancel Mbemba, and Brighton & Hove Albion back Lewis Dunk may be had in exchange for the veteran and about $7.5 million. Dunk’s a towering 24-year-old back, and Brighton boss Chris Hughton knows plenty about “Willo” from his days at St. James Park.

Digne (right)

Roma is going to land talented left back Lucas Digne from Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports in Le Parisien, while i Lupi is also interested in Liverpool center back Mamadou Sakho if you’re to believe Foot Mercato.

What will become of Mario Balotelli? The incredibly-gifted but mercurial Italian striker is not with Liverpool on their preseason tour, instead training back at club headquarters. Brendan Rodgers said the player’s future “is up to Mario“, and several sources say Inter Milan is not interested in bringing Balo back to Italy. But Fiorentina might want the striker, and Liverpool is interested in a swap for Mario Gomez.

Newcastle’s French revolution under Alan Pardew and Graham Carr had a Dutch taste with Daryl Janmaat, Vurnon Anita and Tim Krul in the fold, and the Carr/Steve McClaren combination has already seen Giorginio Wijnaldum arrive (and score last night against Timbers2). Twenty-one-year-old Feyenoord winger Jean-Paul Boetius could be in play, while newly-singed Aleksandar Mitrovic could be joined on Tyneside by ex-Anderlecht teammate Chancel Mbemba.

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique said he can’t do much if Manchester United triggers Pedro’s $33 million release clause. “If he wants to go, a club will have to meet his release clause. I have talked with Pedro to discuss his situation. I have told him how I think about it and he told me how he feels about it, but I obviously won’t reveal the exact content of the conversation we had.”